outsmart scammers

Cory got a text claiming to be from his phone service provider about suspicious account activity. Distracted, he clicked the link. His phone stopped working immediately. The message was a scam. Cory lost access to calls, texts, and any accounts tied to his number. As a life coach who communicates with clients daily, it was a nightmare. The experience left him shaken. His advice? Slow down, trust your gut, and double-check before you click.

As a teacher, Brittany had saved for months to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. After scoring tickets, she was counting down the days—until she logged into the ticketing platform and saw they were gone. A strange link she’d clicked days earlier, a reused password, and no two-factor authentication had let a scammer take over her account. “You can be careful and still get caught,” she says. “I’m only human.”

Henry was trying for weeks to get a ticket to see Tyler, the Creator. Outside the venue, he saw a post from someone claiming to have two extras. The seller asked for $280 up front. Then came the red flags: delays, pressure to pay more, and a screenshot showing someone offering $250 per ticket. He wishes he’d had a tool to spot the red flags before it was too late. Now, he’s working with his bank to recover the money and warning others online.